Forecasting our future
The role of humans in the age of artificial intelligence has come under the spotlight in new research by a team of human factors experts. The group were inspired by Dr Peter Hancock’s 2023 article, ‘Are Humans Still Necessary?’, to take a fresh look at some of the issues surrounding advances in technology.
They gathered opinions and perspectives, held debates and discussions and also used AI queries to gain an overview of how the role of humans in workplaces of the future is seen. Their findings were published in the journal Ergonomics, in a paper called ‘Are Humans Still Necessary: Expanding the discussion’.
The article said: “Observations indicate that while AI may handle routine tasks, humans will likely remain essential for complex decision making, creativity and ethical considerations.
“The paper advocates for viewing workplace dynamics as collaborative human-AI partnerships rather than competition, highlighting the need for a transdisciplinary approach in which human factors/ergonomics professionals play a vital role in enhancing these relationships.”